NBA

Hornets' Nicolas Batum reportedly out 8-12 weeks with torn ligament in left elbow

The Hornets have already been hit with a huge blow only two games into the preseason schedule.

Charlotte forward Nicolas Batum will miss eight to 12 weeks with a torn ligament in his left elbow, according to The Vertical's Shams Charania. Batum suffered the injury after playing only one minute against the Pistons on Wednesday night.

Batum is coming off a season in which he averaged 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. He was Charlotte's second-leading scorer behind All-Star point guard Kemba Walker (23.2 points per game). The loss of Batum will only put more of an offensive burden on Walker, who logged a 29.2 usage percentage last season, putting him at No. 16 in the NBA, not far behind the likes of LeBron James (30.0) and Stephen Curry (30.1).

Hornets coach Steve Clifford will have to reconfigure his starting lineup, which slotted Batum at shooting guard alongside Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marvin Williams and offseason acquisition Dwight Howard. Rookie Malik Monk is an obvious replacement candidate and should see a significant boost in minutes. Batum's playmaking on offense and versatility on both ends of the floor will be difficult to replace, though, and that's a lot of pressure for the 19-year-old out of Kentucky. Clifford might lean on a more experienced player like Jeremy Lamb.

Still, if the injury is on the lower end of the spectrum, the Hornets should be able to stay afloat in a weak Eastern Conference. After a disappointing finish last season, the team expects to make the playoffs in 2018. Clifford went so far as to say he wanted a "top-five defense and top-10 offense" at the team's media day.

Batum is entering the second year of a five-year, $120 million contract he signed ahead of the 2016-17 season.